Front Lines | Sodapop Curtis

01

September 8th, 1970.

   That morning had been like any other.

   I woke up to the sweet sound of birds chirping loudly outside my window, the smell of breakfast wafting through the air, and the faint warmth of the sunlight that illuminated the room.

    "Soda!" I heard Ponyboy yell. "Breakfast is on!"

     I rolled over on my back, opening my eyes fully and drawing a deep breath.  

     For a moment I just lied there, starin' at the ceiling for no real good reason. I did that sometimes. It annoys my brothers because more often than not I'm late to breakfast unless I wake up first.

    "Sodapop!" This time it was Darry's voice.

    "I'm coming!" I yelled, rubbing my eyes as I pulled a t-shirt on. "Just a second!"

     Ponyboy appeared in the doorway, probably sent by Darry to come and drag me to the table.

     "C'mon, slowpoke we ain't got all day..." His frown quickly turned into a grin. "You're drivin' me to school, Darry's goin' to classes in the truck."

     "Why can't you drive ya' self, big man?" I laughed, clapping Pony on the back. "You're sixteen now, ain't ya'?"

     "Yeah, but I ain't got my license yet. Darry hasn't taken me to the DMV." He shrugged. "So, now that we got the car you're supposed to be drivin' me to school until I get my own license and everything."

    "Ah, is that the plan?" I smiled as I sat down at the table.

    "What plan." Darry looked at me and put his napkin in his lap.

     "Me drivin' Pony to school until he gets his driver's license."

     "Yeah, I meant to tell you that last night but just didn't get 'round to it." He shrugged, pausing to say grace. "Bow your heads."

    We obeyed, the room getting quiet as he blessed the food.

    "Dear Father, thank you for this meal, bless today and we pray for the protection of the men out in Vietnam. Amen."

    Darry grabbed the plate full of bacon in front of me after he finished, resuming where he left off in the conversation.

    "Yeah, since we got the car, you can drive Pony to school while I go to classes downtown. You need the practice anyways." He chuckled.

    I nodded, although I hadn't heard much.

    The war had suddenly occupied my thoughts, and I was staring down at my empty plate for a moment before I spoke.

    "Have you heard anything on how the war's goin'?" I tried to mask how weak my voice sounded.

    "Nah..." His tone was low, like he knew something and was trying to hide it from me. "Just the same ol' thing as it usually is..."

    I watched Pony eye Darry as his chewing slowed.

    We both knew something was up, but I decided to ignore the feelin' because Darry was always uptight about the news and politics and things like that.

    "Anything new on the draft?" Pony asked.

    And that's when I'd realized what Darry was worried about by the look in his eyes. They must be callin' another local draft over the radio tonight.

    "Don't think so..." He was acting off. "Besides, you shouldn't be worried about bein' drafted, Pony. Ya' too young for it."

    "What about Soda."